Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 March 2025 were approved as a true and accurate record.

Cllr A Bailey – Minute 6; Affects Non-Registerable Interest: Member of Exmouth Town Council.

Cllr O Davey – Minute 6; Affects Non-Registerable Interest: Member of Exmouth Town Council.

Cllr N Hookway – Minute 6; Affects Non-Registerable Interest: Member of Exmouth Town Council and Member of Devon County Council.

Information on public speaking is available online

No members of the public had registered to speak at the meeting.

There were no matters of urgency.

To agree any items to be dealt with after the public (including the press) have been excluded. There are no items which officers recommend should be dealt with in this way.

There were no confidential or exempt items.

The Corporate Lead – Major Projects and Programmes introduced this item which provided an update on the revised draft Exmouth Placemaking Plan.

The Placemaking Consultant, Mr David Thompson from WSP delivered a presentation on the revised draft Placemaking Plan with a summary of the changes, an overview of the updated document, a summary of key priorities and next steps.

Discussion and clarification included the following points:

·         The revised Placemaking Plan does not include any suggestions for which car parks would be appropriate for rationalisation but it acknowledges that there is a reliance on parking for the success of the town, and the amount of parking overall should not be reduced.

·         The Plan contains a strategic objective to improve the wayfinding between the Exmouth Gateway area at the train station, to the estuary, to create a positive connection around the coastline towards the seafront.

·         The Plan aims to highlight the positive features which already exist in the town and to identify areas for improvement such as the need for more bicycle parking.

·         It is intended to take a holistic approach to the town’s signage strategy, working with stakeholders at the current three levels of local government.

·         The Plan will emphasise the need to engage with County Highways and providers of public transport in order to reduce congestion and the level of car use. 

·         There is a strategic objective which seeks to support business and property owners in the town, to make use of empty and underused premises.

·         The Plan identifies the conflict that needs addressing between cyclists and pedestrians especially on the seafront and at the Exmouth Gateway, and this links with improving signage and public realm.

·         The creation of a rail link park and ride system which utilises the Sowton Park and Ride and the train service from Digby and Sowton to Exmouth, could help to reduce traffic coming into the town.  It was suggested to improve the walk from the Sowton Park and Ride Car Park to the train station, and to consider a shuttle bus link from Exmouth station to the seafront.

The Chair thanked Mr Thompson for the presentation and Members noted the revisions made to the Exmouth Placemaking Plan.